Mental Illness

Thoughts_Arrive

I don't think psychologists and psychiatrists really care.
If they did they'd have a heart and lower their fees.
All I did was spend $200 a week talking, venting and it got me nowhere and $3000 out of pocket.
Now that I am unemployed I can't afford it.

ldent42

all around. Januarys are tough. Too many deaths in January.

A friend and former colleague took his life six years ago. He struggled with mental illness his whole life. I still miss him. Still feel that guilt that maybe I could've done something, been a better friend, maybe it wouldn't have happened. Foolish thoughts, intellectually I know that, it's hard when it's someone you love.

brianlux

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't think psychologists and psychiatrists really care.
If they did they'd have a heart and lower their fees.
All I did was spend $200 a week talking, venting and it got me nowhere and $3000 out of pocket.
Now that I am unemployed I can't afford it.

The ones who are good are saints but some of them are simply in the wrong field.

I had a therapist chew me out once for saying that I wanted to have a little place in my house where I could be alone when I wanted to be. He said I had no right to expect that. I stopped going to see him.

And once about 20 years ago after nearly killing myself I was sent to a psychiatrist. It wasn't my idea to see him but I figured maybe he could help me. I started to tell him about how upset I was when my S.O. at the time suddenly dumped me with no warning and he said, rather aggressively, "Well I don't want to talk about that!" I told him I was done here and walked out on him. The man was a monster.

It's always good to interview a counselor with specific questions to find out how they work and let them know what you expect and if they don't respect that, leave!

Thoughts_Arrive

brianlux said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't think psychologists and psychiatrists really care.
If they did they'd have a heart and lower their fees.
All I did was spend $200 a week talking, venting and it got me nowhere and $3000 out of pocket.
Now that I am unemployed I can't afford it.

The ones who are good are saints but some of them are simply in the wrong field.

I had a therapist chew me out once for saying that I wanted to have a little place in my house where I could be alone when I wanted to be. He said I had no right to expect that. I stopped going to see him.

And once about 20 years ago after nearly killing myself I was sent to a psychiatrist. It wasn't my idea to see him but I figured maybe he could help me. I started to tell him about how upset I was when my S.O. at the time suddenly dumped me with no warning and he said, rather aggressively, "Well I don't want to talk about that!" I told him I was done here and walked out on him. The man was a monster.

It's always good to interview a counselor with specific questions to find out how they work and let them know what you expect and if they don't respect that, leave!

What is a S.O?
My psychologist got annoyed at me as I refused to do what he asked in between sessions, I haven't been back since although I felt comfortable with him.

ldent42

S.O = significant other

hedonist

ldent42 said:

all around. Januarys are tough. Too many deaths in January.

A friend and former colleague took his life six years ago. He struggled with mental illness his whole life. I still miss him. Still feel that guilt that maybe I could've done something, been a better friend, maybe it wouldn't have happened. Foolish thoughts, intellectually I know that, it's hard when it's someone you love.

It does seem like this month has been particularly difficult with various losses.

My husband's coworker took her life several years ago as well...and mentioned him in the note she left behind though not in a negative way. Still, that kind of fucked with him for a while.

As to therapy, I was fortunate to have a wonderful LCSW but didn't appreciate that when I told her I felt I was ready to be done with it, she discouraged me. I know my needs and instincts better than anyone. And once I quit? Life shifted for the better, and toward what are now my happiest, most at-peace-with-myself times ever.

PJ_Soul

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I am so pissed off psychologists and psychiatrists charge so much for 50 mins of their time.
I for one need sessions but cannot afford it right now, $200 every week or fortnight is too much.
How much does it cost in the USA?

Where do you live? I know in Canada these things can cost a lot, but if a doctor actually refers you to a psychiatrist as a medical need you can get it covered. Also, where do you work? Any good benefits? Because I also know that my benefits actually include 12 free therapist sessions a year with good therapists if you need them, BUT it's not a benefit that is "advertised" for some reason. Most employees have absolutely no idea it's an option (which is shameful).

Thoughts_Arrive

PJ_Soul said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I am so pissed off psychologists and psychiatrists charge so much for 50 mins of their time.
I for one need sessions but cannot afford it right now, $200 every week or fortnight is too much.
How much does it cost in the USA?

Where do you live? I know in Canada these things can cost a lot, but if a doctor actually refers you to a psychiatrist as a medical need you can get it covered. Also, where do you work? Any good benefits? Because I also know that my benefits actually include 12 free therapist sessions a year with good therapists if you need them, BUT it's not a benefit that is "advertised" for some reason. Most employees have absolutely no idea it's an option (which is shameful).

I live in Australia.
I am unemployed.
We don't get such work benefits.

chadwick

Post deleted by Admin. See the Posting Guidelines.

brianlux

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HughFreakingDillon

thanks for turning a serious thread about mental illness and suicide into a fucking joke. nicely done.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

HughFreakingDillon said:

thanks for turning a serious thread about mental illness and suicide into a fucking joke. nicely done.

That actually never happened.

A little humour was injected into the thread as a side as the stream of conversation slowed. That's not atypical behaviour on this forum.

However, if you care to get back to the subject with something that can carry us past a page and a half of content... then do so.

BrokenHalos

brianlux said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't think psychologists and psychiatrists really care.
If they did they'd have a heart and lower their fees.
All I did was spend $200 a week talking, venting and it got me nowhere and $3000 out of pocket.
Now that I am unemployed I can't afford it.

The ones who are good are saints but some of them are simply in the wrong field.

I had a therapist chew me out once for saying that I wanted to have a little place in my house where I could be alone when I wanted to be. He said I had no right to expect that. I stopped going to see him.

And once about 20 years ago after nearly killing myself I was sent to a psychiatrist. It wasn't my idea to see him but I figured maybe he could help me. I started to tell him about how upset I was when my S.O. at the time suddenly dumped me with no warning and he said, rather aggressively, "Well I don't want to talk about that!" I told him I was done here and walked out on him. The man was a monster.

It's always good to interview a counselor with specific questions to find out how they work and let them know what you expect and if they don't respect that, leave!

Very good points. Finding a good therapist is like hiring any other professional. You want to check background, references and be willing to move on if it isn't a good fit. It's nobodys fault, you just need to keep trying until you find the one you click with.

HughFreakingDillon

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

thanks for turning a serious thread about mental illness and suicide into a fucking joke. nicely done.

That actually never happened.

A little humour was injected into the thread as a side as the stream of conversation slowed. That's not atypical behaviour on this forum.

However, if you care to get back to the subject with something that can carry us past a page and a half of content... then do so.

"I'll be your psychiatrist....stuff mustard packets up your ass". that's a fucking mockery.

there's certain topics that do not require an "injection of humour". there is no obligation to keep the conversation at a pace determined by you or anyone else. if the thread dies, so be it. it's shit like this that makes people wary of posting their personal feelings/experiences on the matter, as they might feel it is taken lightly or there is possibility of themselves getting mocked.

if there is anything to be said about the topic, feel free. if not, move on.

BrokenHalos

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I am so pissed off psychologists and psychiatrists charge so much for 50 mins of their time.
I for one need sessions but cannot afford it right now, $200 every week or fortnight is too much.
How much does it cost in the USA?

My therapy was free for years due to my income. Sad to hear Aus does not offer something similar. I found a few links that might help -

http://www.mindhealthconnect.org.au/

http://www.ontheline.org.au/about-us/what-we-do

http://www.redcross.org.au/files/Mental_Health_brochure_FINAL.pdf

The red cross offers mental health assistance in Victoria which is close to you I think -

VIC
23-47 Villiers Street
North Melbourne
VIC 3051
Tel 03 8327 7700

You can do it, you are worth it

HughFreakingDillon

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I don't think psychologists and psychiatrists really care.
If they did they'd have a heart and lower their fees.
All I did was spend $200 a week talking, venting and it got me nowhere and $3000 out of pocket.
Now that I am unemployed I can't afford it.

I have had good and bad experiences as well. I think part of it is that they are so overworked it may be difficult to keep "feeling" all day every day for every patient.

I had one guy, the first guy I ever saw, actually fucking LAUGH AT ME. He told me "do you think Dahmer ever went to anyone and told him how he felt? if you are telling me, you are obviously not crazy, just stop worrying about it and you'll be fine". This fucking douche with a PhD in psychology actually said this to me. I was devastated. I never went to see him again. I wanted to report him. But I didn't out of fear of him know who did it and possibly blacklisting me from the profession.

My second guy was ok. He was kind of an unfeeling robot, but he allowed me to talk and helped me understand my own thoughts and feelings better, which is the point. it's an outlet, and after you use that outlet, they are there to give direction on where to go next. they aren't necessarily a shoulder, or to TELL you what to do, cause they don't know, they are there to help you use the tools they have to figure out what works for you.

don't give up. you'll find one that works. it can take a long time to find one that's compatible with you. it might help in the interim to find some self-help books or something inspirational until you can afford it again.

BrokenHalos

HughFreakingDillon said:

thanks brian. I've already had one pm from someone who identified with what I wrote, which is exactly why I did this. I'm trying to think of other things I can do in my limited reach to help. others and myself.

Just keep doing what you are doing, and saying what you are saying. The stigma is still so powerful, the trolls still so accepted and the entire dialogue still so quiet. Thank you for honoring your friend by getting involved, my heart goes out to you and yours, aloha.

BrokenHalos

Nope, not a funny subject for me.

Hey Chaddy - keep your special brand of comedy to posts that aren't addressing a serious medical issue okay?

I am sure if I was talking about my fathers end stage renal failure you would have enough class not to make jokes. Why is it any different when the malady is mental?

PJ_Soul

Yeah, Chadwick ain't no troll, lol. That's just Chadwick being the Chadwick we know and love!

Thirty Bills Unpaid

HughFreakingDillon said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

thanks for turning a serious thread about mental illness and suicide into a fucking joke. nicely done.

That actually never happened.

A little humour was injected into the thread as a side as the stream of conversation slowed. That's not atypical behaviour on this forum.

However, if you care to get back to the subject with something that can carry us past a page and a half of content... then do so.

"I'll be your psychiatrist....stuff mustard packets up your ass". that's a fucking mockery.

there's certain topics that do not require an "injection of humour". there is no obligation to keep the conversation at a pace determined by you or anyone else. if the thread dies, so be it. it's shit like this that makes people wary of posting their personal feelings/experiences on the matter, as they might feel it is taken lightly or there is possibility of themselves getting mocked.

if there is anything to be said about the topic, feel free. if not, move on.

I didn't see it that way.

And as debilitating as mental illness can be... one must be a participant in their own recovery. I think this is what he was getting at. You might not like what he said or how he said it... but there's truth to it.

I don't feel like getting too personal with my own experiences (and would never begrudge anyone for doing so)... but I can testify that according to my intimate knowledge of depression... it requires a great amount of effort to overcome feelings of despair. Great is not a fantastic descriptor. Colossal is perhaps better.

Depression is an anchor that seeks to keep you submerged. I feel greatly for anyone afflicted with it and I wish you strength. There is no band aid solution and no easy fix.